I Shall Have The Whole Day Rest - Poem by Muhammad Shanazar

Just now I have got up, My body is strengthless, Exhausted, fatigued, Each joint imparts me pain, As a loader feels after Loading and unloading the loads.

I too remained busy all alone, In lifting up the injured, Men, women and children, I did not touch the dead, for It was of no use to give them the first-aid.

I only loaded on my back the alive, The injured exposed to radiation, For they were numerous, Lying helpless on the plain, Aftermath of the nuclear war, Horror brimmed from their eyes, Instead of tears.

I heard from the distance, More grumbles of the blasts along the skyline, Mushrooms of smoke spurted Blackening the earth and air; But I heeded to cries of the injured.

I loaded them one by one, And turn by turn on my back, Placed them under the trees In the shades to make them Safe from the emission.

In a ditch I found my own Youngest daughter, lying prostrate With dishevelled hair, The last injured I picked upon my back, And placed her in the shade Of a thick mulberry tree.

The whole night I remained Drench in sweat, the curves of salt In crinkles of my dress are evident; The dream placed at night, A stone of fear upon my chest, I am deadly tired, Today I shall have the whole day rest.